Indiana<\/a> casino operators have raised similar concerns when their own localities were looking into banning smoking at casinos.\u201d<\/p>\nAlso, Stroud described the new casino\u2019s air filtration system \u201ca fantastic idea that can help reduce health risks associated with secondhand smoke\u2026. The council should note that the casino is being pre-emptive and covering the costs\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also, she says that smokers gamble more than nonsmokers. Further, smokers in casinos without bans spend more money, she adds.<\/p>\n
Pine Bluff estimates they will receive $10 million annually in tax revenue. But this is likely to be less if they move forward with a smoking ban, Stroud predicts. Arkansas “could stand to profit from additional revenue from smokers traveling to a casino they can smoke in,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
In response, Rachel Callanan, senior staff attorney at the Public Health Law Center at Minnesota\u2019s Mitchell Hamline School of Law, told Casino.org<\/em> \u201csecond-hand smoke exposure significantly impacts the health of casino employees.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\nHealth Risks from Secondhand Smoke<\/h2>\n
The center cites studies that secondhand smoke exposure levels can be 2.4 to 18.5 times higher in casinos than in offices, and up to 11.7 times higher than in restaurants. The US Surgeon General has found that secondhand smoke exposure is toxic and causes cancer, heart disease, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome.<\/p>\n
But Stroud counters, \u201cThe risks of secondhand smoke are largely overblown.
\n\u201cThere is not consistent data to indicate that secondhand smoke is as harmful as opponents of smoking say that it is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On the state level, Arkansas recently approved legislation that exempts casino floors from the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006. That law aims to protect workers and Arkansas residents from secondhand smoke while in the public or in workplaces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Saracen Casino Resort wants to be excluded from a Pine Bluff, Arkansas city ordinance that requires smoke-free workplaces. The venue likely opens there next year. The Pine Bluff City Council will review next week whether the $350 million casino should adhere to the local rule, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Carlton Saffa, who is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":113508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13592,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Saracen Casino Wants to Allow Arkansas Patrons Smoking in Pine Bluff<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n